Seattle Seahawks running back position will evolve again in 2021
Chris Phillips
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Seattle Seahawks situation
This isn’t a lesson about the de-evolution of running backs. The Seattle Seahawks could be in a running back crisis. Seattle’s lead back for the last three seasons, Chris Carson, and his backup, Carlos Hyde, are pending unrestricted free agents. The Seahawks have next to nothing in available cap space. At this point, it’s anyone’s guess whether Carson or Hyde will changing zip codes or re-signing, but it doesn’t look good for a return.
Some 12’s think the team should transition or franchise tag Carson. For a team with little cap space, $8.9M (transition) to $11.11M (franchise) is more money than they can spare. Even if the Seahawks could afford it, they would likely tag cornerback Shaquill Griffin before Carson. It’s more likely that Hyde, who played for $2.75M last year, takes a nice discount (due to injuries) for a chance to be Seattle’s lead back. Even that’s a longshot. Russ wants to cook and expects the management to spend what money they have protecting him in the pocket.
There is good news if Carson and Hyde don’t return. The Seahawks still have some talent at the position. They have their own former first-round pick Rashaad Penny (27th overall in 2018) still on the roster. Joining him are Travis Homer (2019 6th round) and Deejay Dallas (2020 4th round pick). So, the team doesn’t have an urgent need to spend money on a running back, especially when Penny and Homer are under contract until 2023.
The big question is can the trio replace Carson and Hyde’s production.
#Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny with a 58-yard touchdown.pic.twitter.com/Fdumh1gB09
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 24, 2019